Arriving in Beijing Airport you will be far north east of Chongwen. From the airport, take the Airport Express Metro (¥25) and change to Metro Line 2 at Dongzhimen Station (东直门站) for connection to Chongwenmen Station; or take a taxi (around ¥75).

+

Arriving in Beijing Airport you will be far northeast of Chongwen. From the airport, take the Airport Express (¥25) and change to Line 2 at Dongzhimen Station (东直门站) for connection to Chongwenmen Stn; or take a taxi (around ¥75).

Arriving in Beijing Station you will be just north of Chongwen.

Arriving in Beijing Station you will be just north of Chongwen.

−

The south eastern part of metro line two borders the district with Chongwenmen Station (崇文门站) and Qianmen Station (前门站) being at the border of the district. The southern part of metro line five runs down the middle of the district from Chongwenmen Station and with two stations within the district, Ciqikou Station (磁器口‎站)and Tiantan East Gate Station (天坛东门站). From Tiananmen the district is just south east.

+

The southeastern part of Line 2 borders the district with Chongwenmen Stn (崇文门站) and Qianmen Stn (前门站) being at the border of the district. The southern part of Line 5 runs down the middle of the district from Chongwenmen Stn and with two stations within the district, Ciqikou Stn (磁器口‎站)and Tiantan E Gate Stn (天坛东门站). From Tian'anmen the district is just southeast.

==See==

==See==

===Parks===

===Parks===

−

* <see name="Temple of Heaven" alt="天坛 Tiāntán" price="Park and historical sights (like the temple) ¥35 (¥30 in winter half year), park only ¥15 (¥10 in winter half year)">Far south east of Qianmen and the Tiananmen Square. Not only a beautiful sight, but also surrounded by a vast public park popular with local residents practicing tai chi, dancing, and so on in the mornings and on weekends. Home to many ancient trees, this is also the greenest place in Beijing. Just a short stroll away from the historical sights will bring you to peaceful woods and, amazingly, solitude (especially toward the West Gate). The temple itself was the site where the emperor prayed every year for good harvests and fair weather. Sadly there are few good views of the temple from outside the inner compound wall, which costs extra to enter. The most convenient way for getting there is taking the Subway Line 5 to the Tiantandongmen Station (this is Tiantan's East Gate). It also can be reached by buses 2, 7, 17, 20, 110, 120, 803, 814, 826 to the West Gate (天坛西门 ''Tiāntán Xīmén''); or buses 35 and 106 to the North Gate (天坛北门 ''Tiāntán Běimén''). Bear in mind that walking around this park will take some time.</see>

* <see name="Temple of Heaven" alt="天坛 Tiāntán" price="Park and historical sights (like the temple) ¥35 (¥30 in winter half year), park only ¥15 (¥10 in winter half year)">Far southeast of Qianmen and the Tian'anmen Sq. Not only a beautiful sight, but also surrounded by a vast public park popular with local residents practicing tai chi, dancing, and so on in the mornings and on weekends. Home to many ancient trees, this is also the greenest place in Beijing. Just a short stroll away from the historical sights will bring you to peaceful woods and, amazingly, solitude (especially toward the W Gate). The temple itself was the site where the emperor prayed every year for good harvests and fair weather. Sadly there are few good views of the temple from outside the inner compound wall, which costs extra to enter. The most convenient way for getting there is taking the Subway Line 5 to the Tiantandongmen Station (this is Tiantan's East Gate). It also can be reached by buses 2, 7, 17, 20, 110, 120, 803, 814, 826 to the W Gate (天坛西门 ''Tiāntán Xīmén''); or buses 35 and 106 to the North Gate (天坛北门 ''Tiāntán Běimén''). Bear in mind that walking around this park will take some time. The park also has some of the cheapest souvenir shops in the city with posted prices, so if you're allergic to haggling, make a visit.</see>

*<see name="Ming Dynasty City Wall Site Park" alt="明城墙遗址公园 Míng Chéngqiáng Yízhǐ Gōngyuán" address="" directions="Chongwenmen Metro Station" phone="" url="" hours="Daily 24 hours" price="Park is free; ¥10 for the tower" lat="" long="">Beijing's city wall was build around 1435. It stretched for 23.5km with one part running where metro line two is now (inner city wall) and one part running where the southern part of ring road two is now. Since 1949 (and especially around 1965), most was torn down to make room for ring road two, metro line two and Tiananmen. Now only 1.5km remains behind Beijing Station. It has recently been restored and surrounded by a small park. The wall also houses a cafe and a gallery.</see>

−

*<see name="Beijing Amusement Park" alt="北京游乐园; Běijīng Yóulèyuán" address="1 Zuo'anmennei Street (左安门内大街1号; Zuǒānménnèidàjiē)" directions="Between Tiantan and Longtan Park" phone="+86 10 6714 3611 " url="http://www.bap.com.cn" hours="Summer: 8:30 AM-5:30 PM" price="" lat="" long="">Beijing's first amusement park. Quite large with many rides. Most rides are ok. The location in and around a lake is fine, but the landscaping is not very inspired and the atmosphere is a bit boring, especially on days with few visitors.</see>

*<see name="Ming Dynasty City Wall Site Park" alt="明城墙遗址公园 Míng Chéngqiáng Yízhǐ Gōngyuán" address="" directions="Chongwenmen Stn" phone="" url="" hours="Open 24 hours" price="Park is free; ¥10 for the tower" lat="" long="">Beijing's city wall was build around 1435. It stretched for 23.5km with one part running where Line 2 is now (inner city wall) and one part running where the southern part of ring road two is now. Since 1949 (and especially around 1965), most was torn down to make room for ring road two, Line 2 and Tian'anmen. Now only 1.5km remains behind Beijing Station. It has recently been restored and surrounded by a small park. The wall also houses a cafe and a gallery.</see>

+

+

*<see name="Beijing Amusement Park" alt="北京游乐园; Běijīng Yóulèyuán" address="1 Zuo'anmennei St (左安门内大街1号; Zuǒānménnèidàjiē)" directions="btwn Tiantan and Longtan Pk" phone="+86 10 6714-3611 " url="http://www.bap.com.cn" hours="Summer 08:30-17:30" price="" lat="" long="">Beijing's first amusement park. Quite large with many rides. Most rides are ok. The location in and around a lake is fine, but the landscaping is not very inspired and the atmosphere is a bit boring, especially on days with few visitors.</see>

===Temples and shrines===

===Temples and shrines===

−

* <see name="Shrine of Yuan Chonghuan" alt="袁崇焕祠和墓; Yuánchónghuàn Cíhémù" address="52 Donghuashixie Road (东花寺斜街52号; Dōnghuāsìxiéjiē)" directions="Metro station Ciqikou (磁器口‎) and walk east, or take bus 23, 57 or 715 from east of the station and get off at the third stop at Guangqumennei Station (广渠门内; Guǎngqúménnèi‎)" phone="+86 10 6718 7057" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="¥5">Yuan Chonghuan (1584-1630) was a famous hero and prominent marshal of the Ming Dynasty.</see>

+

* <see name="Shrine of Yuan Chonghuan" alt="袁崇焕祠和墓; Yuánchónghuàn Cíhémù" address="52 Donghuashixie Rd (东花寺斜街52号; Dōnghuāsìxiéjiē)" directions="Ciqikou Stn (磁器口‎) and walk E, or take bus 23, 57 or 715 from E of the stn and get off at the third stop at Guangqumennei Stn (广渠门内; Guǎngqúménnèi‎)" phone="+86 10 6718-7057" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="¥5">Yuan Chonghuan (1584-1630) was a famous hero and prominent marshal of the Ming Dynasty.</see>

*<see name="Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall" alt="北京规划展馆; Běijīngguīhuàguīhuàguǎn" address="20 Qianmen Dongdajie (前门东大街20号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē)" directions="" phone="+86 10 6702 4559" url="" hours="Tue-Sun 9 AM - 5 PM " price="" lat="" long="">Museum with a large model of the city, historical pictures from the city and also other exhibitions with relation to the layout and structure of Beijing.</see>

+

*<see name="Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall" alt="北京规划展馆; Běijīngguīhuàguīhuàguǎn" address="20 Qianmen Dongdajie (前门东大街20号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē)" directions="" phone="+86 10 6702-4559" url="" hours="Tu-Su 09:00-17:00" price="" lat="" long="">Museum with a large model of the city, historical pictures from the city and also other exhibitions with relation to the layout and structure of Beijing.</see>

[[Image:Beijing_underground_city.jpg|thumb|Mao-era propaganda in the Underground City]]

===Other===

===Other===

−

*<see name="Beijing Underground City" alt="地下城 Dìxià Chéng" address="62 Xi Da Mo Hutong 西大么胡同62号" directions="" phone="+86 (0)10 6702 2657" url="" hours="Daily 8.30am-6pm" price="¥20" lat="" long="">During the 1970s, 85km2 of tunnels and vaults were build beneath Beijing as a precaution in the event of a nuclear war. Now one small section of this is accessable for tourists.</see>

+

* <see name="Qianmen" alt="前门; Qiánmén" address="" directions="S end of Tian'anmen Sq" phone="+86 10 6522-9384" email="" fax="" url="" hours="09:00-16:00" price="&yen;10">Built in 1419 as the front gate of the inner city wall. Was originally only used by the emperor on his way to Tiantan. Now it houses exhibits with photos and models of the old city </see>. Since 2007 Qianmen street and the surrounding blocks have been developed as a large-scale tourist district with innumerable shops and restaurants, with more under construction. It is not yet so much visited by foreign tourists as the more high-cost Wangfujing but it does have a tourist information booth where English is spoken.

==Do==

==Do==

−

*<do name="Chongwen's hutongs" alt="" address="" directions="East of Qianmen Dajie" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Take a walk in the rapidly disappearing small streets of the Chongwen hutongs. The present situation (March 2009) is that the area between Qianmen Dajie (前门大街) and the newly established Qianmen East Street (前门东路) is not accessible due to the ungoing renovation, which can be expected to transform the area to a touristy and commercial area like the area west of Qianmen Dajie in neighbouring Xuanwu District. Furthermore, the area further east is partly deserted due to ongoing renovation, which here seems to leave things more or less as they were, a quiet primarily residential neighbourhood with few shops and restaurants. For a less disturbed area, you might want to check out north and north east of Tiantan, which is mixed hutongs and lower apartment buildings, and with a nice laid back feel and many cheap shops and restaurants.</do>

+

*<do name="Chongwen's hutongs" alt="" address="" directions="East of Qianmen Dajie" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Take a walk in the rapidly disappearing small streets of the Chongwen hutongs. The present situation (March 2009) is that the area between Qianmen Dajie (前门大街) and the newly established Qianmen E St (前门东路) is not accessible due to the ungoing renovation, which can be expected to transform the area to a touristy and commercial area like the area west of Qianmen Dajie in neighbouring Xuanwu District. Furthermore, the area further east is partly deserted due to ongoing renovation, which here seems to leave things more or less as they were, a quiet primarily residential neighbourhood with few shops and restaurants. For a less disturbed area, you might want to check out north and north east of Tiantan, which is mixed hutongs and lower apartment buildings, and with a nice laid back feel and many cheap shops and restaurants.</do>

+

+

*<do name="Chongwen south of Second Ring Rd" alt="" address="Taoyang Rd (桃杨路; Táoyáng Lù) and the streets just south of this" directions="Leave Tiantan through the S Gate, walk S past Second Ring Rd and continue a few hundred metres, take the first right" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Explore the part of Chongwen stretching down beneath Second Ring Rd. Here is an area, which seems to have been forgotten by the city planners. Hutongs and small shops, restaurants and businesses are thriving here seemingly undisturbed by the rapid development elsewhere in Beijing. It is a nice place for a walk into the past of Beijing with almost no traffic noise but a lot of local life in the streets.</do>

−

*<do name="Chongwen south of Ring Road Two" alt="" address="Taoyang Road (桃杨路; Táoyánglù) and the streets just south of this" directions="Leave Tiantan through the South Gate, walk south past Ring Road Two and continue a few hundred meters, take the first right" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Explore the part of Chongwen stretching down beneath Ring Road Two. Here is an area, which seems to have been forgotten by the city planners. Hutongs and small shops, restaurants and businesses are thriving here seemingly undisturbed by the rapid development elsewhere in Beijing. It is a nice place for a walk into the past of Beijing with almost no traffic noise but a lot of local life in the streets.</do>

* <buy name="Hong Qiao Market" alt="红桥市场 Hóngqiáo Shìchǎng">Not far from the Temple of Heaven. Worth visiting for the state-run silk market but more especially for the pearl market in the building opposite. The top two floors of this market are filled with jewelry, and this may be the best place in China to buy pearls, coral, turquoise, amber and other semi-precious stones. The presence of a large number of stalls keeps the prices fairly keen, but shop around, keep a smile on your face and bargain hard.</buy>

+

* <buy name="Hong Qiao (Pearl) Market" alt="红桥市场 Hóngqiáo Shìchǎng">Not far from the Temple of Heaven. Worth visiting for the state-run silk market but more especially for the pearl market in the building opposite. The top two floors of this market are filled with jewelry, and this may be the best place in China to buy pearls, coral, turquoise, amber and other semi-precious stones. The top floor features high-end jewelry stores, but the floor below has small merchant stalls still selling good quality pearls and other beads. Lower floors have the usual purses, leather goods, clothing, handcrafts like chess sets or chopsticks, and electronics. The presence of a large number of stalls keeps the prices fairly keen, but shop around, keep a smile on your face and bargain hard. On weekdays, when customer traffic is low, be prepared to be yelled at, have a range of products shoved into your hands and face and be physically grabbed and pushed. Anything to get you to buy their merchandise</buy>

* <eat name="The small streets north of Hong Qiao Market" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="From ¥5" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">In these streets there are a number of small and inexpensive restaurants.</eat>

* <eat name="The small streets north of Hong Qiao Market" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="From ¥5" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">In these streets there are a number of small and inexpensive restaurants.</eat>

*<eat name="Yunteng Restaurant" alt="云腾宾馆; Yúnténgbīnguǎn" address="7 Dong Huashi Bei Li Dong Qu (东花市北里东区7号; dōnghuāshìběilǐdōngqū" directions="" phone="+86 10 6711 3322 " url="" hours="" price="Expect ¥50-75 each person, more if you want some of the fancier mushrooms" lat="" long="">Yunnan cuisine, specialising in mushroom dishes. Located in the Yunnan provincial office building, and the food is as expected very Yunnan. The restaurant tries to look like a Yunnan rain forest, but does not really succeed, and the service level is not impressive, but the food is excellent.</eat>

+

*<eat name="Yunteng Restaurant" alt="云腾宾馆; Yúnténgbīnguǎn" address="7 Dong Huashi Bei Li Dong Qu (东花市北里东区7号; dōnghuāshìběilǐdōngqū" directions="" phone="+86 10 6711-3322 " url="" hours="" price="Expect ¥50-75 each person, more if you want some of the fancier mushrooms" lat="" long="">Yunnan cuisine, specialising in mushroom dishes. Located in the Yunnan provincial office building, and the food is as expected very Yunnan. The restaurant tries to look like a Yunnan rain forest, but does not really succeed, and the service level is not impressive, but the food is excellent.</eat>

* <eat name="Bianyifang" alt="便宜坊 Biànyìfăng" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.bianyifang.com">The oldest roast duck restaurant in Beijing with a history dating back to 1416. Many branches throughout the city including three in Chongwen.</eat>

* <eat name="Bianyifang" alt="便宜坊 Biànyìfăng" phone="" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.bianyifang.com">The oldest roast duck restaurant in Beijing with a history dating back to 1416. Many branches throughout the city including three in Chongwen.</eat>

*<sleep name="Hong Run Hotel" alt="" address="28 Baiqiao St (Báiqiáo Dàjiē; 白桥大街28号)" directions="" phone="+86 10 6719-6888" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="Discounted rate for a standard double room of ¥388. Breakfast ¥25" lat="" long="">This three star business hotel from 2007 is located close to Beijing Railway Station, Second Ring Rd E and Tiantan. Free internet in the rooms. Standard business facilities available as well as Chinese restaurant, room service and beauty salon.</sleep>

−

*<sleep name="Hong Run Hotel" alt="" address="28 Baiqiao Street (Báiqiáo Dàjiē; 白桥大街28号)" directions="" phone="+86 10 67196888" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="Discounted rate for a standard double room of ¥388. Breakfast ¥25" lat="" long="">This three star business hotel from 2007 is located close to Beijing Railway Station, East Ring Road Two and Tian Tan. Free internet in the rooms. Standard business facilities available as well as Chinese restaurant, room service and beauty salon.</sleep>

Contents

Understand

Chongwen is the smallest district in Beijing with an area of 16.5 km2. The population is around 430,000.

Get in

Arriving in Beijing Airport you will be far northeast of Chongwen. From the airport, take the Airport Express (¥25) and change to Line 2 at Dongzhimen Station (东直门站) for connection to Chongwenmen Stn; or take a taxi (around ¥75).

Arriving in Beijing Station you will be just north of Chongwen.

The southeastern part of Line 2 borders the district with Chongwenmen Stn (崇文门站) and Qianmen Stn (前门站) being at the border of the district. The southern part of Line 5 runs down the middle of the district from Chongwenmen Stn and with two stations within the district, Ciqikou Stn (磁器口‎站)and Tiantan E Gate Stn (天坛东门站). From Tian'anmen the district is just southeast.

See

Parks

Temple of Heaven (天坛 Tiāntán). Far southeast of Qianmen and the Tian'anmen Sq. Not only a beautiful sight, but also surrounded by a vast public park popular with local residents practicing tai chi, dancing, and so on in the mornings and on weekends. Home to many ancient trees, this is also the greenest place in Beijing. Just a short stroll away from the historical sights will bring you to peaceful woods and, amazingly, solitude (especially toward the W Gate). The temple itself was the site where the emperor prayed every year for good harvests and fair weather. Sadly there are few good views of the temple from outside the inner compound wall, which costs extra to enter. The most convenient way for getting there is taking the Subway Line 5 to the Tiantandongmen Station (this is Tiantan's East Gate). It also can be reached by buses 2, 7, 17, 20, 110, 120, 803, 814, 826 to the W Gate (天坛西门 Tiāntán Xīmén); or buses 35 and 106 to the North Gate (天坛北门 Tiāntán Běimén). Bear in mind that walking around this park will take some time. The park also has some of the cheapest souvenir shops in the city with posted prices, so if you're allergic to haggling, make a visit.Park and historical sights (like the temple) ¥35 (¥30 in winter half year), park only ¥15 (¥10 in winter half year).

Longtan Park (龙潭公园 Lóngtángōngyuán), Longtan Rd 龙潭路 (E of Temple of Heaven just within the SE cnr of Second Ring Rd; bus 958, 8, 116, 938, 60, 6 to NW gate, 352, 12, 684, 750 to W gate, 37, 122, 3, 434, 800 to E gate), ☎+86 10 6714-4336; +86 10 6716-7319. 06:00-20:30. Park with lake, boats for hire, teahouses and a restaurant, childrens playground, pavilions, a bird market and a lot of dragons. There is also a climbing wall and a roller skating area in the park.¥2.

Entrance to the Ming Dynasty Wall Park

Ming Dynasty City Wall Site Park (明城墙遗址公园 Míng Chéngqiáng Yízhǐ Gōngyuán), (Chongwenmen Stn). Open 24 hours. Beijing's city wall was build around 1435. It stretched for 23.5km with one part running where Line 2 is now (inner city wall) and one part running where the southern part of ring road two is now. Since 1949 (and especially around 1965), most was torn down to make room for ring road two, Line 2 and Tian'anmen. Now only 1.5km remains behind Beijing Station. It has recently been restored and surrounded by a small park. The wall also houses a cafe and a gallery.Park is free; ¥10 for the tower.

Beijing Amusement Park (北京游乐园; Běijīng Yóulèyuán), 1 Zuo'anmennei St (左安门内大街1号; Zuǒānménnèidàjiē) (btwn Tiantan and Longtan Pk), ☎+86 10 6714-3611, [1]. Summer 08:30-17:30. Beijing's first amusement park. Quite large with many rides. Most rides are ok. The location in and around a lake is fine, but the landscaping is not very inspired and the atmosphere is a bit boring, especially on days with few visitors.

Temples and shrines

Shrine of Yuan Chonghuan (袁崇焕祠和墓; Yuánchónghuàn Cíhémù), 52 Donghuashixie Rd (东花寺斜街52号; Dōnghuāsìxiéjiē) (Ciqikou Stn (磁器口‎) and walk E, or take bus 23, 57 or 715 from E of the stn and get off at the third stop at Guangqumennei Stn (广渠门内; Guǎngqúménnèi‎)), ☎+86 10 6718-7057. Yuan Chonghuan (1584-1630) was a famous hero and prominent marshal of the Ming Dynasty.¥5.

Museums and exhibitions

Beijing Museum of Natural History (自然博物馆; Zìránbówùguǎn), 126 Tianqiao S St (天桥南大街126号; Tiānqiáonándàjiē) (Near the W gate of Temple of Heaven), ☎+86 10 6702-1155, [2]. Tu-Su 0900-17:00. Large museum with a lot of information on nature, but some of the exhibitions are a bit old fashioned. Exhibitions cover paleontology, zoology, animal behavior, botany, the original of human beings, dinosaurs, aquarium, the human body, cells, skeletons and an interactive park.¥30; students ¥15.

Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall (北京规划展馆; Běijīngguīhuàguīhuàguǎn), 20 Qianmen Dongdajie (前门东大街20号; Qiánméndōngdàjiē), ☎+86 10 6702-4559. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. Museum with a large model of the city, historical pictures from the city and also other exhibitions with relation to the layout and structure of Beijing.

Other

Qianmen (前门; Qiánmén), (S end of Tian'anmen Sq), ☎+86 10 6522-9384. 09:00-16:00. Built in 1419 as the front gate of the inner city wall. Was originally only used by the emperor on his way to Tiantan. Now it houses exhibits with photos and models of the old city ¥10. . Since 2007 Qianmen street and the surrounding blocks have been developed as a large-scale tourist district with innumerable shops and restaurants, with more under construction. It is not yet so much visited by foreign tourists as the more high-cost Wangfujing but it does have a tourist information booth where English is spoken.

Do

Chongwen's hutongs, (East of Qianmen Dajie). Take a walk in the rapidly disappearing small streets of the Chongwen hutongs. The present situation (March 2009) is that the area between Qianmen Dajie (前门大街) and the newly established Qianmen E St (前门东路) is not accessible due to the ungoing renovation, which can be expected to transform the area to a touristy and commercial area like the area west of Qianmen Dajie in neighbouring Xuanwu District. Furthermore, the area further east is partly deserted due to ongoing renovation, which here seems to leave things more or less as they were, a quiet primarily residential neighbourhood with few shops and restaurants. For a less disturbed area, you might want to check out north and north east of Tiantan, which is mixed hutongs and lower apartment buildings, and with a nice laid back feel and many cheap shops and restaurants.

Chongwen south of Second Ring Rd, Taoyang Rd (桃杨路; Táoyáng Lù) and the streets just south of this (Leave Tiantan through the S Gate, walk S past Second Ring Rd and continue a few hundred metres, take the first right). Explore the part of Chongwen stretching down beneath Second Ring Rd. Here is an area, which seems to have been forgotten by the city planners. Hutongs and small shops, restaurants and businesses are thriving here seemingly undisturbed by the rapid development elsewhere in Beijing. It is a nice place for a walk into the past of Beijing with almost no traffic noise but a lot of local life in the streets.

Chongwen Workers' Palace (崇文工人文化宫; Chóngwéngōngrénwénhuàgōng), 44 Xingfu Dajie (幸福大街44号; Xìngfúdàjiē), ☎+86 6711-6135. Theater specialised in kung fu plays. Also art and culture exhibitions as well as a cinema in the same building.

Buy

Hong Qiao (Pearl) Market (红桥市场 Hóngqiáo Shìchǎng). Not far from the Temple of Heaven. Worth visiting for the state-run silk market but more especially for the pearl market in the building opposite. The top two floors of this market are filled with jewelry, and this may be the best place in China to buy pearls, coral, turquoise, amber and other semi-precious stones. The top floor features high-end jewelry stores, but the floor below has small merchant stalls still selling good quality pearls and other beads. Lower floors have the usual purses, leather goods, clothing, handcrafts like chess sets or chopsticks, and electronics. The presence of a large number of stalls keeps the prices fairly keen, but shop around, keep a smile on your face and bargain hard. On weekdays, when customer traffic is low, be prepared to be yelled at, have a range of products shoved into your hands and face and be physically grabbed and pushed. Anything to get you to buy their merchandise

Chongwenmen Food Market (崇文门菜市场; Chóngwénméncàishìchǎng), 1 Chongwenmen St (崇文门外大街1号; Chóngwénménwàidàjiē) (Just S of Chongwenmen Stn), ☎+86 10 6702-0308. 07:30-20:30. Traditional indoor food market with lots of small stalls with all kind of fresh food ingredients. This is the oldest remaining traditional food market in Beijing and worth a visit, also if you are not buying anything. Has been demolished in 2010.Cheap.

Mid range

Yunteng Restaurant (云腾宾馆; Yúnténgbīnguǎn), 7 Dong Huashi Bei Li Dong Qu (东花市北里东区7号; dōnghuāshìběilǐdōngqū, ☎+86 10 6711-3322. Yunnan cuisine, specialising in mushroom dishes. Located in the Yunnan provincial office building, and the food is as expected very Yunnan. The restaurant tries to look like a Yunnan rain forest, but does not really succeed, and the service level is not impressive, but the food is excellent.Expect ¥50-75 each person, more if you want some of the fancier mushrooms.

Splurge

Maxim's de Paris, 2 Chongwenmen Xidajie (崇文门西大街2号; Chóngwénménxīdàjiē), ☎+86 10 6512-2211. 11:00-14:00, 17:00-22:00. Traditional French cuisine and one of the first foreign restaurants to open in Beijing.From ¥100.

Sleep

Budget

Ziguang Hotel (紫光宾馆; Zǐguāngbīnguǎn), 111 Congdian W St (葱店西街111号; Cōngdiànxījiē). Located in a small street in area with hutongs and narrow streets. Quite small rooms.Listed rates for doubles from ¥288, discounted from ¥100.

Guoren Hotel (国人宾馆; Guórénbīnguǎn), 2A Qianmen Ave (前门大街2A号; Qiánméndàjiē) (At the SE cnr of Tian'anmen), ☎+86 10 5101-9200. Very conviniently located but often full. Rooms with cable TV, IDD telephone. aircon and fridge. There is also a coffee shop and business center.Listed rates for doubles from ¥218.

Hong Run Hotel, 28 Baiqiao St (Báiqiáo Dàjiē; 白桥大街28号), ☎+86 10 6719-6888. This three star business hotel from 2007 is located close to Beijing Railway Station, Second Ring Rd E and Tiantan. Free internet in the rooms. Standard business facilities available as well as Chinese restaurant, room service and beauty salon.Discounted rate for a standard double room of ¥388. Breakfast ¥25.

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